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Scholars at school developed a critical theory of
society called kritisch Therorie which was designed
for a specific approach to interpreting Marxism
This approach sought to revise Marxs. Critique of
capitalism and the idea that revolution was the best
way to change the social and political structure since
his death
The first president of the school was Carl Grundberg,
who wanted Scientific Marxism
Max Horkheimer, the second president, wanted a
more philosophical and less dogmatic approach
which was open to diverse intellectual currents
The dilemma that the first generation of Critical
Theorists had to reconcile was Marxs emancipatory
dream with the stark reality of modern society as
conceptualized by Max Weber (pg. 232)
Horkheimer Cont.
Endorsed the idea that there is no absolute truth of
reality
Thought Manheims Sociology of knowledge to be
practically no less than theoretically wrongheaded
and in his essay Traditional and Critical Theory
distinguishes itself from Manheim and emphasizes a
dialectical representation of Marxs critique of
political economy which was to be the analytical
framework for critical theory
Maintained the idea that there are no general criteria
for critical theory as a whole since it depended on a
repetition of events, Horkheimer said critical theory
aims to asses the breach between ideas and reality
Critical Theory
Stated that critical theory is a process of bringing
consciousness potentialities that have emerged
within the maturing historical situation
Is a theory guided by political practice
Marcuses critical theory was influenced by Hegel
and Marx
Critical theory of society is essentially linked with
materialism
There are two basic elements linking materialism to
correct social theory:
1.
2.
Technological Rationality
An extension of Webers idea of rationalization
Defined term in his work, One-Dimensional Man
Argued that modern industrial society was
dominated by a technological rationality, with
the working middle class as its vocal supporter
and defender
Concerned that the cost of material satisfaction
was the loss of individual freedoms and liberties
Makes two claims:
1. The workers of industrial society are suffering from false
consciousness
2. The workers should not be happy with material
satisfaction but should be striving for some unidentified
nonmaterial satisfaction
place in time
He was looked upon as the guru of the New
Left
Gave lectures and advice to student radicals
Used the media to spread to word of Marxian
theory, revolutionary vision, and libertarian
socialism
Revolution
Entrenched in the Marxist tradition is the
Sexual Revolution
In favor of the sexual revolution
Against those who tried to impose sexual
codes of conduct on others in the name of
religion, especially those who would invade
the realm of individual privacy
For Marcuse, sexual repression was more
than just another evil capitalism; it
represented the bourgeois concept of love
In Negations, he condemned the bourgeois
era as an attempt to isolate individuals
from their natural drives
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, he was
one of the most influential radical theorists
Communication Theory
Concerned with reformulating Marxian theory in the
Democracy
Democracy must be seen first and foremost as a
process that results when certain kind of social
interaction prevails
Democracy should be seen as a particular way
by which citizens make collective and rational
decisions
Envisioned a deliberate democracy where a
governments laws and institutions would be a
reflection of free and open public discussion
According to Habermas, modern democracies of
the West are dominated by political legitimation
Postmodernism
Postmodern thought extends to many
Relevancy
Critical theory is generally about the role of power
in social relations
Critical theory has existed since the formation of the
Institute for Social Research at Frankfurt University
in 1923
Contemporary critical theorists have increasingly
turned their attention to the media and other forms
of entertainment in their examination of modern
culture
Critical theory cannot be characterized by a
particular set of methodological techniques and
theoretical propositions; however, it is still a
coherent approach to the social world that is
separate from other types of sociology and Marxism